Courteeners' Liam Fray previews new songs at Salford Lads Club gig

Singer plays three new songs at venue made famous by The Smiths

He reckons he's the greatest thing since sliced bread, but what do we think? Check out our review of hype-addled troupe The Courteeners at the Academy 2, Manchester, October 11, 2007.
Pic: James Quinton

The Courteeners' Liam Fray played possibly the first ever gig at Salford Lads Club last night (August 18), the Greater Manchester youth centre outside which The Smiths were famously photographed.

The frontman performed a mammoth solo set for XFM, that included the new songs 'It'll Take More Than A Weekend Away To Fix This Mess' and 'Sunflower', plus the first live performance of a track called 'Push Yourself'.

Meanwhile Fray lifted songs from both the group's albums 'St Jude' and 'Falcon', and also gave nods throughout the show to some of Manchester's most well-known bands.

Kicking off the gig by singing the chorus to The Smiths' 'William, It Was Really Nothing', the singer quickly launched into 'The Opener' and then early single 'Acrylic'.

Later in the performance, Fray also spliced the introduction to Elbow's 'Starlings' with 'The Good Times Are Calling', before doing the same with Morrissey's 'Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together' and 'Cross My Heart & Hope to Fly'.

Joined onstage by The Courteeners' guitarist Daniel 'Conan' Moores for 'Will It Be This Way Forever?', the frontman then followed up with solo renditions of 'You Overdid It Doll' and 'Revolver'.

Closing proceedings with 'Not Nineteen Forever' and 'What Took You So Long?', Fray told fans to "keep your Christmas plans open", hinting at the possibility of a hometown gig towards the end of the year.

After his set, the frontman jumped into the crowd and thanked fans personally for coming. While he did this, The Smiths' 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out' rang out, to which the departing audience cheered and Fray started singing along without a microphone.

'William, It Was Really Nothing/The Opener'
'Acrylic'
'An Ex is An Ex For A Reason'
'Sycophant'
'How Come?'
'Meanwhile Back At The Ranch'
'Starlings/The Good Times Are Calling'
'Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together/Cross My Heart & Hope To Fly'
'Sunflower'
'Push Yourself'
'It'll Take More Than A Weekend Away To Fix This Mess'
'Cameo Brooch'
'Fallowfield Hillbilly'
'No You Didn't, No You Don't'
'Last Of The Ladies'
'Please Don't'
'Yesterday, Today & Probably Tomorrow'
'Will It Be This Way Forever?'
'You Overdid It Doll'
'Revolver'
'Slow Down'
'The Rest Of The World Has Gone Home'
'Wind & The Drizzle'
'Not Nineteen Forever'
'What Took You So Long?'